Latching means for refrigerator doors



May 27, 1941. F. D. PELTIER LATCHING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 50, 1937 May 27, 1941- RD. FELTIER 2,243,772

LATCHING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS I Filed Oct. 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED I-STATES PATENT f omce LATCHING MEANS Foa REFRIGERATOR.

noons Frank DIPeltier, Indianapolis, 1116., assignor, by mesne assignments, ,to Philco Corporation,

Philadelphia, vania Papa corporation of Pennsyl- Application October so, 1937, Serial No. 171,812

8 Claims. (01. 292-11) This invention relates generally to refrigerators of the type having inner and outer doors, the

outer door forming the principal closure for the food compartment and the inner door serving to divide the food compartment, depthwise, into manipulating means for the doors of dual door refrigerators, which conduces to a more facile and convenient use thereof. This object is attained by the provision of separate latches for the inner and outer doors and improved means on the outer door for effecting, selectively, the unlatching and opening of the outer door as a single manual operation and without disturbing the inner door, or the concurrent unlatching of both doors by the single manual operation of drawing open the outer door and allowing the inner door to swing open automatically under the action of a spring. This and other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of the front portion of a refrigerator showing the main and auxiliary doors in closed position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken at iine'2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line ll of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the operation of the upper door handle; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the operation of the lower door handle; Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. '2, and Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 showing the frontal portion of a dual door refrigerator, numerals 9 denote the opposite side walls of the cabinet structure, such walls terminating forwardly in the jamb pieces it and I I. An outer or principal door panel 82 is hinged to the jamb piece iii, and spaced inwardly of door I2 is anauxiliary door l3, likewise hinged to jamb piece It! by an extended hinge arm I. The auxiliary or inner door may consist of a shallow pan-like member as shown. having shelves l5 disposed therein and carried thereby. The

space behind the inner door l3, indicated at l6,

' latch lever to release the inner door.

Fig. 1 is adapted, to accommodate the bulk of the food stored in the cabinet and the forward chamber afiorded by the hollow inner door provides a more accessible storage space for frequently used foods. The inner door l3 is'dimensioned to swing freely into and out of the cabinet through the front opening thereof and its "peripheral margins. are spaced from the walls' of the cabinet so .that air cancirculate between the chambers. I

The inner door I3 is adapted to be held in .closed position against the action of a spring device tending to open the same, by a latch assembly mounted on the jamb piece H. The specific construction of the inner door latch is not of the essence of the. present invention except that it should include a latch-releasing element located adjacent the forward face of jamb ll, for'manual engagement when the outer door is open, and for engagement by a plunger rod forming an element of the outer door latch, when the outer door is closed. In the present example the inner door latch-release comprises a pushbutton llmounted on one arm iii of a bellcrank lever, the other arm IQ of which engages one end of a latch lever 20 which normally is urged outwardly by aspring 2| into the path of a keeper portion 22 on the inner door. The push button I! projects through a front opening in the metal trim which encases the jamb l3, and when depressed, causes its associated bell crank to be swung counter-clockwise (Fig. 1), which pivots latch lever 20 in a clockwise direction and retracts the outwardly projecting portion of the When so released, assumingthe outer door to be open, a spring mechanism disposed adjacent the hinged side of the inner door urges the same to open position. Such mechanism may, as in the present example, consist of a plunger 23 mountedin a transverse bore in the jamb l0, the plunger being urged against the hinge arm M by a compression spring 24.

Secured to the front face of jamb H and spaced a short distance below-push button I! is a keeper element 25, such element projecting of the casing 261s a latch lever 28, one arm of which terminates in 2. depending nose portion 30 which is adapted to en age an upwardly directed crook 3| formed on the end of the keeper -ported for endwise movement in an apertured bridge piece 34 extending across the opposite side walls of the latch casing. I The'latch lever 23 is adapted to be maintained 5| which may be identical in form to that of handle 43. Handle 5| projects downwardlyin either of two positions, shown severally in Figs. 2 and 5, by means of a compression spring 35, the ends .of which bear against shoulder por-v tions of an extensible pilot element 35 extending longitudinally through the spring. The upper and lower ends of the pilot element are socketed in recesses 31 and 38 formed in the lower end of latch arm 32 and the bottom wall of the latch casing, respectively- The'latch arm 32 and the pilot element 36 may be regarded as the coacting links of a toggle mechanism, the middle joint of which is adapted to pass transversely through an imaginary line connecting opposite end bearings constituted by pivot pin 21 and bearing socket 38. Fig. 2 exhibits the toggle mechanism in one of its conditions of stable equilibrium with spring 35forcing the latch lever 28 into keeper engaging position. A projection 33 on the latch lever is shown in abutment with a stationary guide piece 43 of the casing which limits the extent of counterclockwise movement of the latch lever under the action of spring 35. The latch lever is adapted to be pivoted clockwise to raise its nose portion 30 out of engagement with keeper 25, by inward movement of plunger 33, the latch lever being maintained in the position shown in Fig. 5, by spring which now tends to turn the latch lever clockwise Movement of the latch lever in such direction is limited by its engagement with the guide piece 40. The latch lever will remain in the aforesaid Position (Fig. 5), corresponding to an open condition of the outer door, until initially displaced by the abutment of its depending arm 32 with keeper 25 when the outer door is closed, such initial displacement being immediately followed by the action of spring 35 which snaps the lever into latching engagement with the keeper ele-- ment.

The latch casing 25 is ensconced in a suitable recess formed near the side margin of the outer door and is secured in place by a pair of bolts 4| which extend through the door from its in. ner side for threaded engagement with an escutcheon plate 42 formed on the outer margins of the latch casing. Projecting outwardly from the face of theescutcheon plate 42 are a pair of parallel, spaced walls 43, disposed in vertilcal planes, and extending across the space between these walls are two pivot pins 44 and 45 which have their ends-fixedly secured in-opposite outer corner portions of the walls. Mounted on pin 44 for pivotal movement in a vertical plane is a door handle 46, such handle projectingupwardly beyond the top edges of the walls 43. s

handle 45 is further provided with an inwardly projecting portion which forms an upper closure for-the space between the walls 43', preventing the entry of dirt and dust into the latch mechanism.

Pivotally mounted on pin 45 is adoor handle from-the lower horizontal edges of walls 43, is

provided with an extension 52 which coacts with plunger head 48, and a transverse projection 53 which'forms a bottom closure for the space between the walls 43. with reference to Fig. 7 it will appear that the handle extensions 41 and 53 are complementally disposed in lateral adjacence, each bearing against one-half of the end surface of the plunger head 48. Thus, when either of the handles are rocked outwardly by a manual movement tending to draw the outer door to open position, the plunger 33 will be displaced inwardly to actuate latch lever 23 and disengage it from keeper 25, as has been previously explained.

In addition to its function of unlatching the outer door, the lower handle serves to unlatch the inner door and is operatively related to the inner door latching mechanism through a rod 54. Such rod is slidingly supported by the guide piece 43 and is pivotally connected by a pin 55 to the extension 52 of the lower handle so that inward movement of the said extension effects conjoint inward movement of plunger 33 and rod 54.- The latch casing is so located that the inner end of rod 54 will register with the pushbutton ll when the outer door is closed, and when the rod 54 is displaced inwardly by rocking movement of the lower handle, it abuts and depresses push-button ll which releases the inner door latch. No operative connection is made between the upper door handle and rod 54,

' hence the inner door latching mechanism is not latching of the outer door when the lowerv handie is operated. Sequential unlatching of the several latch mechanisms as aforesaid may be provided for in a number of different ways. For example, plunger 33 may be shortened so that its-inner end will be spaced from lever arm 32 and hence will not engage and actuate the lever arm until after plunger rod 54 has actuated push button l1. With reference to Fig. 1, it

will be noted that a space exists between the forwardmost extremities of the inner door assembly and the inner surface of the outer door. Accordingly, when the lower handle 5| is used, the same being used only when it is desired to have both doors open together, the inner door latch is released first and by reason of the space aforesaid, the inner door is permitted to swing forwardly under the action of its spring 24 sumciently to pass the inner door latch lever before that element can re-engage the keeper portion 3|. The inner door then follows the outward swinging movement of the outer door.

The operation of my improved latching and door operating system, and the convenience atnoted that the means for manipulating the outer door embodies a pair of relatively oppositely directed handles which are lever arms. One of such lever arms is operatively connected only with the outer door latch mechanism, while the other lever arm is operatively connected to both outer and inner door latch mechanisms, hence by selecting the proper lever arm, independent opening of the outer door, or concurrent opening of both doors may be attained. After the outer door has been opened, the push button I! is readily accessible and may be directly manipulated to effect the opening of the inner door if such is desired.

While I have described my invention with reference to a presently preferred form thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction herein set forth, as various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and full intendment of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a latch construction for a plurality of doors for a refrigerator in which the doors are arranged in inner and outer relationship, a latch for each of said doors, the latch for the inner door being normally inaccessible when the outer 'door is closed; and an operating arrangement carried by the outer door including mechanism whereby both latches may be released for simultaneous opening of both doors and mechanism whereby only th latch for the outer door may be released for opening of the outer door alone, said latch for the inner door including a part accessible and directly manually operable for its release after the outer door has been opened.

2. In a latch construction for a plurality of doors for a refrigerator in which the doors are arranged in inner and outer relationship, a latch for each of said doors, the latch for the inner door being normally inaccessible when the outer door is closed; and an operating arrangement carried by the outer door including'a pair of selectively operable latch releasing members,

means operatively connecting one of said members to the latch for the outer door to permit opening of the outer door alone upon actuation of said on member, and means operatively connecting the other of said members to the latches for the inner and outer doors to permit simultaneous opening of said doors upon actuation abutment against proximate portions of a frame, a latch carried by the frame for engagement with a part on the inner door when said door is in closed position; means for releasing said latch and normally inaccessible when the outer door is closed; a second latch carried by the outer door and adapted .to engage a part on said frame; and an operating arrangement for both latches carried by the outer door and including a pair of pivotally mounted handles, means operatively connecting one of said handles toboth of said latches whereby both latches may be released to permit simultaneousopening of both doors by said one handle, and means operatively connecting the other of said handles to the second latch whereby said latch for the outer door may be released to permit opening of the outer door alone, said latch for the inner door including a part directly manually operable for its release after the outer door has been opened. I

5. In a latch construction for a plurality of doors for a refrigerator in which the doors are arranged in inner and outer relationship for abutment against proximate portions of a frame, a latch carried by the frame for engagement with a part on the inner door when said door is in closed position; means for releasing said latch and normally inaccessible when the outer door is closed; a second latch carried by the outer door and adapted to engage a part on said frame; and an operating arrangement for of said other member, said latch for the inner door including a part accessible and directly manually operable for its release after the outer door has been opened.

3. In a latch construction for a plurality of doors for a refrigerator in which the doors are arranged in inner and outer relationship, a latch for each of said doors, the latch for the inner door being normally inaccessible when the outer door is closed; and an operating arrangement carried by the outer door including a pair of pivotally mounted handles, means operatively connecting one of said handles to both latches whereby both latches may be released for simultaneous opening of both doors by said one handie, and means operatively connecting. the other of said handles to the latch for the'outer door whereby said latch for the outer door may be released for opening of the outer door alone, said latch for the inner door including -a part accessible and directly manually operable for its release after the outer door has been opened.

4. In a latch construction for a plurality of doors for a refrigerator in which the doors are arranged in inner and outer relationship for both latches carried by the outer door including a pair of selectively-operable latch-releasing members, means operatively connecting one of said members to the second latch to permit. opening of the outer door alone upon actuation of said one member, and means operatively connecting the other of said members to both latches to permit simultaneous opening of said doors upon actuation of said other member, said latch for the inner door including a part accessible and directly manually operable for its release after the outer door has been opened.

6. In a latch construction for a plurality of one of said members to the latch for the outer door to permit opening of the outer door alone upon actuation of said one member, means operatively connecting the other of said members to the latch for the outer door to permit opening of said door upon actuation of said other of said members, and means actuated by said other of said members and engaging the push button of the latch for the inner door to release said latch to permit simultaneous opening of said doors upon actuation of said other of said mem-, bers, the push button of the latch for the inner door being accessible for direct manual operation to release said latch after the outer door has been opened.

7. In -a latch construction for a plurality of doors for a refrigerator in which the doors are arranged in inner and outer relationship, a latch for each of said doors, the latch for the inner door being normally inaccessible when the outer door is closed; and an operating arrangement carried by the outer door including a. first plunger for releasing the latch for the outer door, a second plunger for releasing the latch for the inner door, a pair of pivotally mounted handles both of which are movable into engagement with said first plunger for releasing the latch for the outer door and one of which handles, upon engagement with said first plunger, releases the latch for the outer door to permit opening of said outer door alone and the other of which handles is operatively connected to said second plunger for releasing the latches on both of said doors to permit simultaneous opening of both doors upon actuation of said second plunger by said other of said handles, said latch for the inner door including a part accessible and directly manually operable for its release after the outer door has been opened.

8. In a latch construction for a plurality of doors for a refrigerator in which the doors are arranged in inner and outer relationship for abutment against proximate portions of a frame, a spring-pressed latch lever for the inner door mounted on th frame for engagement with a part on the inner door when said door is in closed position; a push button mounted on the frame for releasing said spring-pressed latch lever, said push button being normally inaccessible when the outer door is closed; and a latching and operating arrangement carried by the outer door including a spring-pressed latch lever adapted to engage a part on said frame when the outer door is in closed position, a first plunger movable into engagement with the spring-pressed latch lever for the outer door to release said lever, a second plunger movable through said outer door and into engagement with the push button on the frame to release the latch lever for th inner door, and a pair of selectively-operable, latch-releasing members each including means for actuating the first plunger to effect release of the spring-pressed latchlever for the outer door, one of said members also including means for actuating the second plunger to effect release of the spring-pressed latch lever for the inner door, whereby the outer door may be opened independently of the inner door or both of said doors may be released for simultaneous opening thereof, the push button for releasing the spring-pressed latch lever for the inner door being accessible for direct manual operation after the outer door has been opened.

FRANK D. PEL'I'IER. 

